My vision became watery as I thought of Nebu. I dashed my finger beneath my eyes. Approaching the unicorn, I carefully placed the horn in the center of her forehead while Aten chanted a spell. Light bloomed around the edges of the horn, and then it attached. At once, sparkling sand formed around the heads of each unicorn in the room and when it solidified, each one had a new horn. As one, they rose up, legs pawing the air, and whinnied in happiness.
The one before me lifted her head and smiled. Thank you, Lily Young.
“Zahra?” I gasped. “I didn’t recognize you with your white coat.”
All unicorns who sacrificed in the battle have earned this honor.
“It…it’s beautiful,” I said.
I smiled, but it was a sad one. She turned to leave, and Amon took my hand. I knew how much Nebu had wanted the curse lifted, and I was glad for his children that it had been. It was decided then that as a reward for their efforts, the Sons of Egypt would be given the gift of mortality if they wished it. I bit my lip as they spoke quietly among themselves. It was selfish of me to wish they would all return with me to the mortal world, but I couldn’t imagine never seeing them again. Tia and Ashleigh were again very quiet, neither of them saying more than “Let us wait and see.”
When they made their decision, they announced that Amon would take the gift of mortality and return with me to New York. Asten and Ahmose would remain as guardians of the afterlife to the new goddess they would soon be appointing to act in Ma’at’s stead. My heart broke knowing I’d have to leave them behind, and I was keenly aware of the soft weeping in the back of my mind.
Aten placed his hands on Amon’s shoulders, and I saw the moment when he took on mortality. He seemed to almost stagger beneath the weight of it, but he offered me a sweet smile. I knew that despite the fact that he no longer had powers, he was pleased with the gift. I was withholding judgment until everything was said and done.
Amon and I were given permission to accompany them to the afterlife. Since we were no longer immortal and weren’t dead, there was no way for us to get there except to be taken by one of the gods. Nephthys volunteered. She placed one hand on my shoulder and another on Amon’s. Ahmose and Asten were able to return to the afterlife on their own. I closed my eyes, and the five of us spun into sand.
I could feel every inch of me unraveling. When we were put back together, I stood in a familiar place, the Hall of Judgment. Running a hand across an arm of Ma’at’s throne, I took in deep breaths, trying to temper the wild emotions I felt. A sob escaped as I turned to the three men behind me. My lip trembled, and it took me a moment to hear the soft voice speaking in my mind.
Ya hafta let us go, Ashleigh said.
“What?” I gasped out loud. “I don’t understand what you’re saying.”
We have made our decision, Lily, Tia explained gently.
We don’ belong in the mortal world, Ashleigh said. Not anymore.
Our wish is that you live your life unfettered, Tia added. To stay would only cause confusion for you and sadness for us. It would be a kindness to let us depart on our own terms.
“But…but where will you go?” I asked, tears leaking down my face.
Maybe we’ll end up here in the afterlife, Ashleigh said.
But we are prepared if we do not, Tia said. The outcome will not affect our decision.
“They…,” I mumbled, stumbling over my words. “Ashleigh and Tia want to leave. Is this possible?” I asked Nephthys.
“Yes,” she answered plainly. “If they wish to go, they simply relinquish their hold on you. Their minds will drift away from yours.”
“Will they end up here?”
She hesitated. “I do not believe so. Since they were summoned directly from the Waters of Chaos, it is likely they will return to the same place.”
My arms shook. “No,” I said decisively. Disturbed by my quivering limbs, I folded them across my chest. “I won’t allow it.”
Sister, Tia said. When I didn’t answer, she called my name softly. Lily. We love you. You are family to us. But we must do what we feel is right. This is not your choice to make.
“Please,” I begged. “Don’t do this.”
Before we go, Ashleigh said, will ya allow us ta say goodbye?
I pressed a trembling hand to my mouth. Tears pooled at the corners of my eyes and dripped across my cheeks, creating wet, sticky trails. I could only nod in answer. Ashleigh understood and came forward as I stepped back and held on to Tia.
“Ahmose?” she said, holding out her hand.
“Ash?” he answered, then immediately wrapped her in his arms. “Are you sure?” he asked as he stroked her hair.
She nodded and smiled against his chest. “It’s for the best, love. Keep my heart with ya.” Ashleigh took her heart scarab, still linked to Ahmose’s, and pressed them into his hands.
After they were secured in his chest, he put his hands on her face, cupping her cheeks. “I love you, Ash. Find your fairy tree and wait for me on the grassy hillside. If it’s at all possible, I’ll join you there.”
“I’ll wait for ya, my Ahmose. I’ll look for your smile in the face o’ the moon an’ feel your touch in its beams.”
Ahmose kissed her fiercely, desperately, and then collapsed to his knees, quiet sobs wrenching his large frame as he held on to her legs. “Ah, my bonny lad,” she said. “Hush, now.” Ashleigh stroked the hair from his face. He lifted stormy gray eyes to hers. “Give me one last brave smile.”
Ahmose nodded and attempted to do as she asked but managed only a sad twitch of his lips.
“Farewell, my lovely moon god,” she said. There was a slight stirring of the air, and then Ashleigh was gone. I burst into torrential sobs and clung to Tia, but she shushed me and rose to the surface.
“Ashleigh has gone,” she said. “I would speak with Asten before I depart.”
Amon and Ahmose moved off to give Asten and Tia some privacy.
“Tia,” Asten started, but she held up a hand, stopping him.
“I am not one for flowery words like my sisters,” Tia said, “but there is much I wished I’d said to you before I watched you die.” She lifted a fingertip and slowly stroked the length of one of his dark brows. “Asten, you are more beautiful than the sunrise to me. You know who and what I am, and you have managed to love me. I did not regret giving up my form to embrace Lily, and if you will embrace me now”—she swallowed—“I will not regret leaving you.”
Asten stepped close and draped his arms loosely around her waist. Pressing his forehead against hers, he said, “You might have no regrets about your leaving, but I will. I will think of you every day of my long life. Every time I look at the sun, I will see your golden eyes. In my dreams I will look for you and remember the time you asked me to kiss you. You may take your leave of me, but I will never take leave of you.”
Tia lifted her head, her veins filling with heat, her heart throbbing. “Of all men, you are my chosen mate. I will never have another. With all the energy I have left, I will long for you, Asten. Find me among the stars.”
Like Ashleigh, Tia broke apart the two hearts belonging to her and the man who held her and pressed them into his chest. “Remember me, Tene,” she said and pressed her lips to his.
Asten slanted his mouth against hers, gently at first, and then the kiss deepened, becoming sweeter and more heartfelt. When they broke apart, Asten said against her lips, “Always, Tiaret.”
Then she was gone, and it was just me. Sobs continue to wrack my frame. I was vaguely aware of Asten passing me to Amon. He held me gently, stroking my neck as I watered his sleeve with my tears. When I was finally under control, Nephthys said, “Come, Lily, meet the new goddess of the afterlife before you depart.”
She took me to a room where a woman was being fitted with new robes. Nephthys cleared her throat, and the woman turned. My mouth gaped open. “N…Nana?” I said, running to her and wrapping my arms around her waist.
“Lilypad,” she said soothing
ly. “I’m glad to see you.”
I lifted my head. “But…I don’t understand. How can you be here?” I asked. “Only the dead or the immortal are allowed. And what does Nephthys mean by a goddess?”
“Well, I was brought here by the new ferryman.” She looked up and smiled at someone behind me. “Here he is now.”
I turned in her arms and saw a smiling Dr. Hassan. He was dressed the same way he’d always been with the exception of a new belt that housed the river sticks. “Docking was a bit tricky,” he said. “I see you’ve met my new wife,” he added with a twinkle in his eye.
“Wife?” I gaped at him and turned back to my grandmother.
She smiled serenely and cupped my chin. “Now, Lilypad, I expect you’ll take care of Bossy and bake the twins their cakes on their birthdays. And from time to time, will you visit your granddaddy’s grave and tend to his flowers?”
“Yes, but—”
She interrupted me and kissed my forehead, putting her hands on my shoulders. “There’s a lot of work to be done. I imagine the two of us will be busy,” she said, offering her new husband a smile. “By the way,” she added, “I like your Amon. He’s got a very strong chin.” Tilting her head in Amon’s direction, she gave me a wink.
“I, I,” I stammered, “I guess Dr. Hassan does, too.”
“That he does,” Nana said with a soft laugh.
“It’s taken care of,” a new voice said from behind me.
“Anubis?” I whirled around. He nodded to me deferentially, a surprising gesture from the surly god I’d once known. “The remains of your grandmother and Dr. Hassan are entombed in the place they guarded,” he said, “should you wish to visit them. Their sarcophagi lie next to those of Asten’s, Ahmose’s, and Amon’s former bodies.”
“Re…remains?” I said, horror creeping into my voice.
“Now, Lilypad,” my grandmother said, “Aten and Nephthys need more help. They offered us a chance to do just that. You know that neither of us had many years left. Now we’ll have centuries to be together and learn everything we can about each other. As the ferryman, Oscar will be able to visit me frequently. What better person can you think of to help the dead transition?”
“He…he’s a good choice,” I admitted. “But what about…”
“You’ll have your Amon. I’ve left you the farm. You can sell it or give it to the twins. Do what you want with it.”
My lip quivered. “But…Nana…”
She tugged me close. “Ah, Lily,” she said. “I know your heart’s hurting. Mine stings a bit, too. But I’ll see you again. Maybe there’s even a chance that crafty Anubis will let you hitch a ride from time to time to visit.” She wiped away my tears with her thumbs. “Now you head off and have a happy life. I’ll see you again.”
“But how?”
“That Asten of yours promised to let me visit you in dreams. I imagine I can take the young man at his word. Now you get going, I’ve apparently got a lot of work that needs doing.”
She kissed me softly on the cheek, and then Nana was rushed away, being trailed by a large group of servants. Apparently, the line for judgment was very, very long.
“Are you ready, then?” Dr. Hassan asked, placing his beloved fedora on his head. “I’m to take you back to the mortal realm.”
I nodded brokenly and tried to offer him a smile. I felt as out of place as a chicken in an eagle’s nest. Ahmose and Asten each hugged me, the former lifting me off my feet and kissing my forehead and the later cupping my neck and quickly kissing my cheek. They tried to put on brave faces, but I knew they were hurting, deeply. Soberly, they said goodbye to Amon.
He gripped each of their arms. “In death and in life, Asten. In death and in life, Ahmose.”
“In death and in life,” they repeated.
“We will watch over you,” Ahmose said.
“And we will guard your way to the afterlife,” Asten echoed.
Before I knew what was happening, we were following Hassan to the pristine deck of a brand-new ship.
“It’s lovely,” I said, a twinge of sadness tempering my enthusiasm as I thought of Cherty and Mesektet. “What do you call her?” I asked.
“I call her Hatshepsut,” he said with a grin. “Anubis said that upon my next return he will try to arrange a visit with Hatshepsut—the pharaoh herself! Imagine. Me being able to meet the one I spent a lifetime researching! Oh, I’ll have to start making a list of questions.”
I smiled at him softly. He was clearly pleased with his lot. As much as I would miss him—both him and Nana—I couldn’t deny them this happiness.
“Cast off!” Oscar cried out, and we were soon adrift on the Waters of Chaos. Amon and I stood off to the side, waving to Nephthys, Anubis, Asten, and Ahmose until we could no longer see them. Then I slid down to the deck, Amon right next to me. He cupped my hand in his and traced the lines. “Palm to palm, we risk together, we live together, and, now we will die together.” Amon wrapped his arm around my body and held me close as we sailed into a rising sun.
I must have slept on the boat for a long time, because when I woke, it was in the bed at my grandmother’s farm. Amon sat in a wicker chair nearby, his feet crossed where he’d propped them up next to me, his head nodding in sleep. He stirred when I threw back the covers.
“Lily?” he asked. “How do you feel?”
“Wrung out and hung on Nana’s line to dry.”
“Me too,” he said, scratching the side of his neck.
“How long have we been here?” I asked.
“Hassan dropped us off last night. I carried you inside. Before he left, he gave me this bag full of papers and pictures.”
“Can I see it?” I asked.
He handed me the bag, and inside I found a birth certificate, a passport, a driver’s license, school records, and citizenship papers to several countries, including Egypt. Along with this was a list of accounts from banks around the world. I gasped when his beloved archaeology tools fell onto the bed as well.
We’d been on the farm for a week, figuring out a way to tell my parents how I’d met a handsome Egyptian boy in Iowa, when I had the dream. The moon was casting its light over the bed, and I breathed rapidly and sat up. Amon’s voice steadied me. “What is it?” he asked.
“Asten, I think. He showed me a dream.”
I spent the next hour describing what I’d seen. Isis and Nephthys summoned the great gods who’d brought the cosmos into alignment, and Wasret and Nekheny appeared with contented smiles. Nekheny greeted his mother warmly. “What may we do for you?” he’d asked.
“Osiris and I have searched the netherworld. With the Devourer gone, we were able to compel the hellhounds to aid us. The reapers offered their help as well.”
“Yes?” Wasret said patiently.
“We’ve found her hair,” she said excitedly. “A few strands of it were caught in the bark of the burned fairy tree.” Isis gave the red strands to Nekheny.
“And I have brought you the remains of a stillborn Egyptian girl,” Osiris said, placing a tiny wrapped figure on the ground. “I have searched the afterlife and have not found her. I thought, perhaps, you could refashion her.”
Wasret and Nekheny looked at one another and then came to an agreement. “We will do as you ask,” they said in unison.
They took the offerings and reappeared on the surface of the Waters of Chaos. Then they wove a spell and said, “Tiaret, we summon your life force and fashion a new form for you from the body of one that never lived. Ashleigh, we summon your life force and bid you enter your new form.”
Light coalesced and rose from the newly expanded Waters of Chaos. The snake Tharu looked on curiously as they worked. When the two women opened their eyes, they looked upon one another and smiled widely, falling into each other’s arms and laughing. The gods escorted them to the afterlife and secreted them in the Hall of Judgment. When the guardians were summoned, Wasret asked them if they still held the heart scarabs they’d been entrusted with. Nod
ding, they pulled them from their chests and were astonished to feel the beating hearts of the ones they loved. The newly fashioned girls were then reunited with the men who held their hearts.
Ahmose wrapped his arms around a lovely woman with curly red hair that hung down to her waist. Her nose had a dusting of freckles, and her green dress brought out the sparkle of green in her laughing eyes. Behind her, two diaphanous wings quivered with excitement.
After their embrace, Ahmose and Ashleigh turned to the goddess.
Wasret said, “Ashleigh, you have been fashioned anew. You will henceforth be called Luna, the wife of the moon god. Let your new name be engraved upon your heart. Together you will be unified in your desire to serve the cosmos. Your role will be the cultivator of new realms and the guardian of the eastern horizon. You will be granted the power with your companion to walk the Path of Yesterdays and Tomorrows. As this is your desire, the bond between you is now unbreakable, like that of Isis and Osiris. Nothing will part you from this moment on.”
Asten came forward then with a gorgeous princess. She walked with confident steps on long legs that stretched for miles and held her head high and proud. Her skin was smooth and dark. The lines of her cheekbones and jaw were prominent, and her mouth and figure were curvy and lush. Around her slim neck hung a thick necklace of burnished bronze. She was a true goddess. When she looked at Asten she gave him a sly smile, her golden eyes twinkling as she tilted her head toward him. A corner of her mouth lifted as he whispered something in her ear.
“Tiaret,” Nekheny said, “henceforth you will be called Naledi, the wife of the god of the stars.”
Asten murmured softly, “My little star.”
“Hush, Asten,” the woman said low but with a happy smile.
The voice was slightly different from the one I remembered, but looking at the woman, I could easily see the lioness staring back at me. Even if it weren’t for the mass of tawny curls that framed her lovely face like a golden halo, I’d know it was Tia. The only thing missing was the twitching tail.